The vast majority of non-System D3 teams fare much worse than 17-8. Is there dismissal of the style of play used by every sub-.500 team? Nope.
If the Grinnell System was used over several seasons by 62 or 71 D3 teams and none reached the final 4, then we'd have a sampling to which a valid critique could apply.
When only 2 or 3 out of 406 teams use a particular style of play, that style's potential has not been tested much.

In 28 games, Centre's defense has allowed .434 2FG shooting (462/1064) and .243 from 3 (113/465). Opponents have attempted 19.9 FTs per game.
For further perusal :
https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/592507
They're on a 7 game winning streak, after losing 3 of 4 during Jan 22 - Feb 2.

here is my opinion on all-CCIW :
  1st team :
Lauren Huber (league MVP, just slightly ahead of Ava Bardic)
Ava Bardic
Olivia Rangel
Natalie Gricius
Jocelyn Trotter
Mallory Powers
Sawyer White
Marianna Morrissey
  2nd team :
Annika Richardson
Kadence Tatum
Kristin Bukata
Sierra Gibson
Emily Brenneisen
Emilie Wizner
Emma Thistle
Kate Oliver
--- opinion derived from seeing teams in person (Elmhurst 8 times, North Park 8, Wheaton 7, Carroll 3, Illinois Wesleyan 3, Millikin 3, North Central 3, Augustana twice and Carthage once) plus noting the results of their other games

Icy roads (and sidewalks) are forecast for the later hours tonight across the northern half of Illinois.
Some chance of hazardous postgame rides home for CCIW WBB : North Park (Rock Island to Chicago), North Central (Kenosha WI to Naperville), Carroll (Bloomington IL to Waukesha WI) and perhaps the short Wheaton to Elmhurst trip.
I just checked the four host web sites and the games still show for 7pm.
We'll see if any starting times are moved up a couple of hours, with the forecast in mind.

Both teams were allowed to play feisty defense, which kept the score down to 22-22 at the half.
Reviewing the stats, I was surprised to see only 1 steal for Wheaton's Petra Trumbach; I thought she had 3 or so.
In regard to IWU turnovers, here is the range from their 13 games : 9 9 10 10 10 12 16 16 16 16 17 18 29. The 29 occurred in the OT game.

lmitzel, I've found that some people on the UIC campus are amused (to a finite extent) when you ask them, "Is that you I see?"

Congrats to Mia Smith for her 500th win. Getting the first 499 wins was pretty good, too!
CCIW WBB teams have combined for a 24-17 record so far in nonconference action.
AUG 1-3
CRL 4-1
CTG 3-1
ELM 5-0
IWU 3-0
MIL 1-3
NCC 2-2
NPU 2-4
WHE 3-3

Ten newcomers at Augie :
https://athletics.augustana.edu/news/2024/8/21/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-announces-2024-recruiting-class.aspx
I'm glad I only needed to count to 10; otherwise would have had to remove a shoe and sock.
Speaking of socks, the White Sox have 31 wins already in early September. It may take the NFL Bears three years to match that.

new head coach selected at Elmhurst : Cameron Tucker
https://elmhurstbluejays.com/news/2024/7/24/tucker-tabbed-head-womens-basketball-coach.aspx
- -

Former Illinois Wesleyan player Michelle Bilek, who was an assistant WBB coach for U of Chicago last season, is now shown as the Maroons' Interim Head Coach.
https://athletics.uchicago.edu/sports/womens-basketball/coaches/2024-25
I'd assume she is in contention with others for Head Coach for the upcoming season.

On the condition of anonymity for the source, I was told that the next U of Chicago head coach will be Anna Nimity.
(now there's a dumb pun for ya!)

Annie and her parents deserve a massive amount of admiration for being so strong during the challenges recounted in that youtube video.
Thanks for providing that link, GoPerry. And thanks to the medical pros who assisted her along the way.

new head coach for Millikin :
https://athletics.millikin.edu/news/2024/6/17/womens-basketball-hammer-named-millikin-head-womens-basketball-coach.aspx
--

That was a quick visit (one season). We'll see how many of last season's WBB newcomers like the university and continue their education at Elmhurst.

Thanks for posting that, PauldingLightUP!
Whoever replaces her at Millikin gets to start the post-Knudsen era.